Get to Know the Shooter – Rune Kristian Hansen at the Swedish Cup

2 jan, 13:41

This year, Rune Kristian Hansen has taken on a unique dual role at the Swedish Cup, participating both as a competitor and as a member of the jury. The opportunity came through his shooting colleague that asked him to participate and Rune Kristian sees jury participation as a way to giving back to the sport.

Participation and Expectations

Although this is Rune Kristian’s first time competing at the Swedish Cup, he anticipated a large, international, and well-organised event. He recognised the competition as Sweden’s largest international shooting event, attracting athletes from several nations. Even with limited prior knowledge, Rune Kristian expected a thoroughly planned and competitive tournament.

Disciplines and Training Focus

Rune Kristian competes in pistol disciplines, including the Olympic games, and has spent the last two years focusing heavily on air pistol. His training also includes 10 m and 25 m distances and field shooting, often alongside a training partner from another club. Training at a neighbouring club has allowed Rune Kristian to make air pistol a central part of his routine and improve his overall pistol performance.

Mental Approach and Handling Pressure

Rune Kristian handles performance variations through careful post-series analysis, identifying the reasons behind weaker series and adjusting his technique for the next attempt. He explains that even after a strong series, a weaker one can occur, and reviewing what went wrong is key to improvement. I asked Rune Kristian: “If you shoot a bad series, how do you reset and prepare for the next one?"Well… if I knew that, I’d probably be unbeatable!"

Routines, Preferences, and Competition Mindset – quick questions

Rune Kristian does not have specific pre-competition rituals but prefers morning sessions, drinks coffee, and values achieving a personal best over winning medals. Music or silence before competing does not play a major role in his preparation.

Approach to the Swedish Cup

Heading into his first Swedish Cup, Rune Kristian’s goal is to compete with a bold and fearless attitude, performing decisively and giving everything on the range. He aims to combine intensity with precision and approach the competition with both strength and control.